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Shah Rukh hails Gambhir and Ganguly

Shah Rukh said that Gambhir has lifted KKR magnificently after three seasons of incessant controversies.

Kolkata: A beaming Kolkata Knight Riders co-owner Shah Rukh Khan can't stop raving about his team's skipper Gautam Gambhir as he feels the batsman has lifted the side magnificently after three seasons of incessant controversies.

The left-handed opener has led by example, being the leading scorer for Kolkata this season with 421 runs. On Saturday, in their match against the Sourav Ganguly-led Pune Warriors, it was no different as Gambhir's 36-ball 56, his third half-century from as many matches, set the platform in their seven-run victory.

The Indian selectors not very long ago had removed Gambhir from the vice-captaincy ahead of the Asia Cup but for Shah Rukh, Gambhir is the best.

"In my eyes, he is genuinely the finest captain that I have seen. Yes, I have seen most of them from outside. I am a cricket follower. But leading from the front and the way he talks to the boys, I think he is the most awesome captain.

"Apart from that he is a gentleman -- a really genuine gentleman. I very seldom get impressed by leaders, but I am very impressed by Gautam Gambhir," Shah Rukh said.

Kolkata were controversy-ridden in the first three seasons and Gambhir has done a great job in motivating the side, the Bollywood star said. "For a team which has been so full of controversy for no choice of ours for the last four years... For him to come and be so full of grit and determination... To prove himself to be a Kolkata boy... is a great thing."

Moreover, Shah Rukh was also seen exchanging plesantaries with Ganguly in a rarest of rare frame after the match at the Eden Gardens. Shah Rukh came rushing from his hospitality box to greet Ganguly near the visitor's dressing room after Pune lost their prestige match.

"He [Ganguly] is wonderful, a cricketing great, a legend. We've grown up getting used to his fours and sixes and the way he plays on the offside. It's wonderful to see him playing every time, and tonight was no different," Shah Rukh said in praise of the former Indian captain.